One of the biggest surprises that was revealed at this past The Game Awards 2021 was a brand-new project from Keiichi Toyama, the creator ofSilent Hill. This will be the first project after Toyama established his own development studio,Bokeh Game Studio, complete with otherSilent Hillalumni. This includes a longtime composer of the series, Akira Yamaoka, who is responsible for some of the series' most iconic music, and results in the showcase ofSlitterhead, a disturbing, bizarre new horror game that may be the successor to his previous horror works.
WhileSlitterhead’s first trailerdidn’t show off any gameplay, it did give fans an idea of what to expect from the upcoming release, including humans transforming into horrific spider-like creatures that will murder anything in their way. The game doesn’t appear to be leaving players entirely vulnerable, however, as there are shots ofSlitterhead’s protagonist taking them on in action-style combat. Toyama was glad to share more details on what else to look forward to regardingSlitterhead.
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In an interview with IGN Japan, Toyama revealed some of the details of its gameplay and setting, though he remained silent about some specifics considering the game’s early development stage. He said thatSlitterheadwill be a more action-oriented third-person game, where it will have new mechanics that have not been seen in other games before, hoping it will create a unique experience. This extends to the gore aspect, where he hopes that it will portray the horror in a way that players will be immersed within it, providing entertainment with both a mysterious story and new action gameplay.
Other details revealed about the game include the setting, as well as theinspiration for the monsters shown inSlitterhead. The trailer shows an unspecified city, with Toyama clarifying it is a fictional place inspired by 1980s and 90s Hong Kong, though the sights will be explored through a lens of nostalgia. The mysterious creatures he said are mimicking humans are known as Yakushi, a kind of monster whose roots originate from classic theater. He hinted that part of the gameplay will involve finding ways for these creatures to reveal themselves and drop their disguises.
In regards to the current state of theSilent Hillsuccessor, Toyama said that the development team is preparing to complete the prototype’s core concept before increasing its manpower to start full-on production. He also notes that the production will be continuing until at least the end of 2022, and what platforms the games will release on is also undecided. However, he promises to keep fans updated regarding the development status ofSlitterheadas time goes on.
